OBJECTIVETo determine the economic effects on the prevention of dental fear (DF) by pre-operation-education or local anesthesia method during the process of tooth filling.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty school children of age 7 to 12, participating in this study, suffered from occlusal caries on their mandibular first molars. They were divided into 3 groups, with 25 boys and 25 girls each. Group A (pre-operation-education) was showed video tape on caries to, familiarized with clinic environment, including dental chairs and instruments; Group B (local anesthesia) received injection of 1.8 ml of 2% lidocaine for local anesthesia about 15 minutes before treatment; Group C (blank) received no intervention for DF. Thereafter, all subjects received same filling treatment. During that process, each DF case was evaluated blindly based on Venham's clinical ratings of anxiety and cooperation. Cost-minimization analysis was then studied.

RESULTSSignificant difference was found between groups, but not between group A and B in DF rate (5/50, 9/50 and 21/50, chi(2) = 15.503 1, P = 0.000 4). The costs of each case in 3 groups were 83.99 Yuan, 87.09 Yuan and 87.76 Yuan respectively.

CONCLUSIONBetween pre-operation-education and local anesthesia methods, the former was worth promoted for it's better clinical effect in DF prevention with lower cost.

Child ; Dental Anxiety ; economics ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Dental Caries ; therapy ; Dental Cavity Preparation ; economics ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male

OBJECTIVETo determine the clinical effects of preventing dental fear (DF) by pre-operation-education or local anesthesia method during the process of tooth filling.

METHODS150 school children, aged 7 to 12, participated present study. All of them suffered from occlusal caries on their mandibular first permanent molars. They were divided into 3 equal groups, and each had 50, 25 boys and 25 girls. Group1 (pre-operation-education): taking about 1 hour to show them science and educational video tape on caries, then, clinic environment, including machine and instruments, and answering their questions; Group2 (local anesthesia): about 15 minutes before treatment, injecting 1.8 ml of 2% lidocaine for local anesthesia; Group3 (blank): without any measurements for DF. After that, all subjects accepted same filling treatment as usual. DF of each case was evaluated by 3 evaluators blindly based on venham's clinical ratings of anxiety and cooperative.

RESULTSSignificant difference was found between groups (0.57 +/- 0.59, 0.83 +/- 0.66, 1.05 +/- 0.68, H = 18.646, P = 0.0001), also in DF rate (10%, 18% and 42%, chi(2) = 15.5031, P = 0.0004). But not between groups 1 and 2.

CONCLUSIONDuring decayed tooth filling treatment, pre-operation-education is better than that of local anesthesia method, in DF prevention.

Anesthetics, Local ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Dental Anxiety ; prevention & control ; Dental Caries ; psychology ; therapy ; Dental Restoration, Permanent ; methods ; psychology ; Education, Dental ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Molar ; Treatment Outcome